Building construction



Apr. 10, 1923. I

. F. L. DECKER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Mar. 51, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR I 675mb BY m ATTORNEY r m e M r.

Apr. 10, 1923. F. L. DECKER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Mar. 51, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 FLJe'cker mvEN-ropz av j AITORNEY XZM WITN$E$ Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,144'

.F. L. DECKER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Mar 51, 1922 ff d mvEm oR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

FRANK L. DECKER, OF, KIMBLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUILDING cons'rnuorron.

Application filed March 31, 1922. Serial No. 548,438.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kimble in the county of Pike and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Building Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to a building construction.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to produce, in a building construction, walls having facings of either stone or concrete slabs, said slabs being erected in courses and rigidly sustained without the necessity of laying mortar therebetween, the inner faces of the slabs, however, being reinforced by concrete or similar plastic material, the inner and outer wall surfaces being held away from each other but securely connected in a manner to provide a dead air space between said portions.

It is also my purpose, in the construction of buildings to provide slabs designedto be laid in courses, with longitudinal grooves on the edges thereof, to arrange between the inner and outer slabs of each coursechanneled or flanged plates which constitute the vertical members of the frame, the said plates being disposed in opposed pairs whose outer flanged edges contact the slabs and whose upper and lower ends engage with horizontal tie plates that have flanges to be received in the grooves in the slabs, said vertical plates being. also engaged by tie spacer plates, the construction affording between the plates a continuous air space, and at the same time permitting an inner facing of concrete or similar plastic material being applied to the slabs.

It is a still-further objectto producein a building construction means whereby. slabs of concrete or stone may be utilized in providing the inner and outer facings of the walls of the construction and held together in a manner which will insure the rigidity of courses of the slabs, and wherein the building may be erected in an expeditious manner without the employment of skilled mechanics.

It is a still further object to produce a building in which slabs of stone or concrete are laid in courses to provide the inner and the outer walls thereof, the said slabs being connected together in an efiicient manner .wlthout necessitating the spreading of morof cornices on the upper courses of the slabs.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, maybe accomplished by a construction, combination and operative association of parts, such as is disclosed the drawings which accompany and which form part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a View of abuilding in the course of erection and in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan View showing the arrangement of parts when one course of the slabs which constitute the inner and outer walls of the improvement is laid.

Figure 5 is a similar view with the horizontal and longitudinal tie plates removed.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the partition plates are secured to the inner wall structure.

Figure 7 is'a perspective view of one of the plates employed at the foundation of the structure.

Figure 8 is a similar View of the outer corner plate.

Figure 9 is a,similar view of the inner cor ner plate. v

Figure 10 is a similar view of the horizontal corner plate.

Figure 11 is a similar view of one of the .vertical wall plates.

Figure 12 is a similar View of one of the horizontal plates which connect the vertical wall plates.

Figure 13 is a similar view of one of the longitudinal spacer plates for the vertical wall plates.

Figure 14 is a similarview of the concrete stop plate for the corner plates.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the manner in which window or door openings are made in the building construction.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of one of the upper tie plates and the bar for engaging therewith for connecting a cornice to the wall structure.

In quarries and in other rock districts, a great amount of stone of a length, but not of a thickness which would permit its use in ordinary building construction is allowed to waste. It is one of the objects of this invention to make use of such Waste stone. Such stone I cut into slabs of desired lengths and widths. These slabs are comparatively thin, and I centrally groove the longitudinal edges thereof. Such slabs I employ on both the inner and outer walls of my building construction. but the corner slabs are of a greater thickness than the other slabs. While it is one of my objects to make use of waste stone or marble, it is to be understood'that the slabs employed with my building construction may be molded from concrete should it be found desirable.

In carrying out my invention, I lay a concrete foundation 1. I embed on the upper edge of the foundation, at desired spaced intervals what I term foundation plates and which are broadly indicated by the numeral 2. These plates, as well as the other metal plates employed in carrying out my improvement may be and preferably are con- 7 structed of comparatively thin material such as sheet iron. The foundation plates 2 include each a base 3 that has its ends flanged upwardly, as at 4, while between the outer flanges there are intermediate flanges -55.-

In the space between the confronting flanges 4 and 5 I arrange the edges of the lower courses of the slabs employed in my construction. The slabs are indicated by the numeral 6, and as previously stated, have their longitudinal edges centrally grooved, as at 7. If desired, the outer flanges 4 of the foundation plates may be of less length than the inner flanges 5 and the said outer flanges 4 may be received in the lower grooves 7 of the slabs.

The spaces between the confronting faces of the flanges 4 and 5 of the foundation plates receive therebetween and the said flanges 4 and 5 provide supporting means for the inner vertical wall plates 8. The wall plates 8 are arranged between the inner and outer courses of slabs 6 so that they will contact with the slabs at the confronting ends thereof, as well as with the slabs between their said confronting ends or vertical joints.

7 The vertical wall plates 8 have side flanges 9 and their lower ends provided with a horizontal base 10. The side flanges 9, at their juncture with the plates, and in a line with the base 10 are notched, as at 11, and the-base 10 in a line with the inner face of the plate 8 is notched as at 12. The edges of the flanges 9 are preferably headed and are directly in contact with the inner faces of the slabs. The plates 8 are of a length equalling the width of the slabs and in the erection of the building the plates, like the slabs are arranged in courses. The flanges 9 of the plates are provided with outstand- 8, the said corner plates, of course, being of.

a length corresponding to the width of the slabs and corresponding to the length of the plates 8. Each of the corner plates is of a similar construction and are designed to be arranged in opposed. spaced pairs. The body of each of the corner plates is indicated by the numeral 17 the same being provided with side flanges 18 which are bent at opposed angles greater than right angles. The sides 18 have their ends flanged outwardly, as at 19, and the edges of the said said flanges 19 are preferably bent upon themselves or beaded to contact with the slabs 6 adjacent to the corner slabs. The

corner plates are provided with flanged base portions 20, the said base, in a line with the body of each of the plates 20 being provided with a slot 21, and centrally with respect to the sides 18 with slots 22, while the flanges 19, at their juncture with the sides 18 are notched, as at 23. The upper edges of the corner plates have their flanges 19 notched,-as at 24 in a line with the notches 23, their sides 18 provided with outstanding tongues 25 and the plate proper provided with a central outstanding tongue 26. The corner slabs are indicated for distinction by the numeral 27. These slabs are only employed on the outer corners as the straight slabs 6 for the side and end walls are disposed in contacting relation on the inner corners. The outer corner slabs 25 have their outer faces arranged right angularly with respect to each other and their inner faces arranged at an angle with respect to the outer faces. The last mentioned angle face of each of the corner slabs is designed to contact with the body ,portion 17 of one of the corner plates 17.

When the first course of slabs are laid, in -a manner as above indicated, there are received in the notches 16 of the inner vertical plates 18 and the notches 24 on the flanges 19 of the corner plates 17, fingers y it) upper course of slabs.

28 provided by notching the lower edge ad jacent to the ends of spacer plates 29. Be-

31, are in contacting engagement with the flanges 9 of the inner vertical plates 8 and the flanges 19 of the corner plates 17. The upper edges of the spacer plates 29 are projected a considerable distance above the upper edges of the vertical plates 8 and 17. If desired, spacer plates of a slightly different construction from that just described may engage in the notches 23 and 11 of the corner and inner plates, at the bottom of the wall construction.

When the plates are in contacting engagement with the slabs and are held in spaced relation as above described, I insert in the channels provided by the said plates, and in a line with the vertical joints of the slabs, a filler of concrete 32.

The horizontal tie plates for the inner vertical spacer plates 8 are each broadly indicated by the numeral 33. Each of the plates 33 preferably comprises two similarly shaped members disposed in contacting relation, each of which being provided, adjacent to its corners with V-shaped slits, and the metal bounded by the slits is bent to provide tongues 34 which are disposed in lapping relation, and whereby the sections are connected. The outer edges of the sections constituting the plates 33 are bent in opposite directions to provide both upwardly and downwardly extending flanges 35 respectively. If desired, the tie plates 33 in ward of the flanges may, for the sake of lightness be formed with openings, and each of the said plates is disposed at an inward inclination from its corners to points adjacent the center thereof, an'd'the said plates at their inclined edges are preferably flanged in opposite directions, as indicated by the numeral 36. By thus arranging the side edges of the plates ,at an inward inclination, space is provided therebetween for the projecting portions of the spacer plates 29. The lower flanges 35 are designed to be received in the upper grooves of the slabs, and the upper flanges 35 are designed to be received in the lower grooves of the next The tie plate 33 has pairs of spaced longitudinally disposed slots 37 which receive therethrough the tongues 14 on the side flanges 9 of the vertical plates 8, the said tie plates having lateral slots 38 that rec ive therethrough the tongues 15 on the'sa'i plates 8, while in a line with the said slots 38, the central non-flanged portion of the tie plate is notched from the outer edges thereof, as at 39, to receive therethrough the projecting angle corners 40 of the spacer plates 29. The tongues 14 and 15of the lower series of vertical wall plates 8 are designed to also pass through the slots 13 and 12 on the base 10 of the next upper series of vertical wall plates 8, and thereafter the said tongues are bent over the base portions 10 of the said upper series of plates 8. The notches 11 on the lower corners of the plates 8 receive therethrough the projecting corner portions 40 of the spacer plates 29. The tie plates for the corners are indicated by the numeral 40 and comprise each a pair of members disposed one over the other, and provided with V-shaped or rectangular slits, the metal bounded by the same forming bendable tongues, the said tongues being bent to hold the sections connected. The corner horizontal tie plates are substantially square in plan, each, however, having both its inner and its outer corners notched or cut-away, and likewise having its body at desired intervals for the sake of 1i htness, cut-away. The plates, in a line with certain of the walls of the last mentioned cut-away portions may be and preferably are slotted, and the metal bounded by the slots provide tongues which are bent over each other to further connect the sections comprising the said corner tie plates. The outer ed es of the sections comprising the corner p ates are bent in opposite directions to provide upwardly directed flanges 41 and downwardly directed flanges 42. The downwardly directed flanges are designed to be received in the slots in the upper edges of the corner slots and in the edges of the slabs which are in contacting engagement with said corner slabs, while the upper flanges are designed to be received in the lower grooves in the next upper course of corner and straight slabs. The inner corner of the tie plate 40, at the referred to notched ortion thereof has the walls provided therey bent to form the same with upwardly directed flanges 43 and downwardly directed flanges 44, the downwardly directed flanges being received in the grooves on the inner plates of the corner of the structure, and the upwardly directed flanges 43 being received in the lower grooves of the next upper o'r superimposed inner corner slabs.

referably the inner edges of the corner plates and the body of the said plates are provided with spaced angle notches 45 that receive therethrough the central tongues 26 of the corner plates 17. The corner tie plates are provided with additional spaced pairs of longitudinally disposed notches 46 that receive therethrough the tongues 25 on the sides 18 of the vertical corner plates 17 The tongues 25 and 26 project a suitable distance above the corner plates and are de* signed in be received in the slots 21 and 22 &

upon the base of the next upper or superimposed pairs of corner plates 17. Between the corner plates and the slabs with which they are connected, there is inserted plastic concrete 47.

When partitions are to be provided or when joists are to be laid between the courses of the slabs in the building construction, and it is found not desirable to cut the inner slabs, I provide what I term partition ties. These ties are each constructed from a plate or sheet of metal which is bent upon itself to provide an inner T-shaped portion 50. The web of the T-shaped portion is, for distinction, indicated by the numeral 51, and the same, on its outer edge is formed with a substantially U-shaped portion 52 arranged right angularly with respect to the horizontal plane of the web. The flanges provided by the straight angular end of the web are designed to be received between the contacting horizontal edges of certain of the slabs, and the substantially U-shaped'portion 52 receives a stud therein, when a partition is to be constructed in the building, or the said U-shaped portion 52 may have its parallel extensions connected at the lower edge thereof whereby a socket is provided for the ends of a joist.

The upper series of tie plates 33 and -are preferably provided with key-hole slots 53 that receive therethrough bits 54 on the end of a bar 55. By such arrangement thebars 55 may be flexibly or otherwise connected to the cornice blocks of the construction.

Also between the horizontally disposed plates there may be arranged angle plates 56 which have their corners notched, as at 57 to engage between the said horizontal tie plates, or in certain of the notches provided therein. The angle plates 56 serve as stops forthe plastic material or concrete which is inserted between the plates to contact with the slabs- It is, of course, to be understood that the elements constituting the Emetagllio frame work need not necessarily be constructed as herein described or as illustrated by the drawings. The vertical wall plates 8 may, for instance, be in the nature of channeled irons and the corner wall plates may likewise be in the nature of channeled irons which have their sides flanged outwardly to provide the portions 19. The tie plates for both the plates 8 and the corner plates 17 need not be constructed of two members, as

I a single plate may be employed with an efiiciency equal to that above described, it being merely necessary to provide the same with the. flanges to be received in the grooves of the superimposed slabs and the slots and notches to receive the tongues of the vertical plates and the spacer plates. The invention is also susceptible to all other modifications which fall withinthe scope of whatI claim.

It is believed, that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the improvement, and therefore further detailed description will not be attempted.

Provision is made for obtaining the desired openings for windows and doors in the building: construction. The outside edges of the blocks are'cut square and the said blocks are set on end with the outside edge flushwith the face of the outside wall so that the door or window frame may be brought to butt against the face of the casing block. The inside edges of the blocks will be concealed as the same are covered by the window or door casing. The blocks of the casing have grooves cut across each end to engage the flanges on the horizontal tie plate and the vertical wall plate can be cut in two at the center to provide two members which serve for each side of the window or door casing.

Having described the invention, I claim 1. A wall construction in which slabs arranged in superimposed courses provide the inner and outer walls therefor, comprising vertical members in contacting engagement with the inner faces of the opposed slabs, spacing means for said vertical members, tie means engaging both the spacer means and the vertical members, means at the confronting ends of the superimposed first mentioned means for securing the tie means thereto, and means on the tie means disposed between the superimposed slabs and engaging therewith to hold the latter on the frame work.

2. A wall construction in which superim- I posed courses of longitudinally grooved slabs provide the inner and outer walls thereof, comprising opposed vertical plates which are in contacting engagement with the inner faces of the opposed slabs and which are arranged in superimposed relation and are of a length equalling the width of the slabs, spacer plates engaging the upper ends of the vertical plates. tie plates between the confronting ends of the superimposed vertical plates and connected thereto, said tie plates extending between the courses of the slabs,and means on the ends of-the said plates received in the grooves of the slabs for holding the slabs'to the frame work.

3. A wall construction in which superimposed courses of slabs which have their upper and lower edges grooved longitudinally are employed to provide the outer and inner facings of the walls of the construction, comprising opposed pairs of vertically arranged superimposed wall plates which respectively contact with the inner faces of the opposed slabs and which are each of a length equalling the width of the slabs, longitudinally arranged spacer plates connecting the vertical plates,- flanges on the spacer plates in contacting engagement with the tween the confronting edges of the courses of slabs, and means on said tie plates received in the grooves-of the said slabs for holding the latter against the frame work.

4. In a wall construction in which the inner and outer facings for the wall is formed of superimposed courses of slabs whose edges are grooved longitudinally, comprising opposed pairs of superimposed vertically arranged wall plates, each of said wall plates having flanged sides whose edges are in contact with the inner faces of the 0pposed slabs, longitudinally arranged spacer plates for the wall plates, horizontally arranged tie plates between the confronting ends of the superimposed wall plates, means between the wall plates and tie plates for securing the latter to the former, said tie plates having their ends arranged between the horizontal joints of the superimposed slabs, and flanges on the ends of the said plates received in the grooves of the said slabs. v

5. In a wall construction in which slabs arranged in superimposed courses provide the inner and outer facing therefor, and in which said slabs have their edges grooved longitudinally, comprising vertically arranged oppositely disposed superimposed wall plates each of a length corresponding to the width of the slabs, each of said wall plates having side flanges whose edges are 1n contact with the inner faces of the slabs, each of said wall plates having a base and its opposite end provided with bendable fingers, longitudinally arranged spacer plates connected to the upper ends of the wall plates, tie plates arranged between the superimposed wall plates and engaged'by the fingers of the said wall plates for securing the same to the wall plates and also for connecting the superimposed wall plates to gether, said tie plates having their ends extending between the confronting'edges of the slabs and having oppositely directed flanges received in the grooves of the said slabs,

6. In a wall construction whose inner and outer wall surfaces are made up of superpositely disposed pairs, each-of said wall plates comprising a channeled member whose outer edges are in contacting engagement with the inner faces of the opposed slabs, each of said plates having abase which is grooved and which is notched and having its opposite end provided with tongues and with notches between the tongues, longitudinally disposed tie plates notched to provide fingers to be. received in the notches of the wall plates, and the tongues of each series of wall plates designed to be passed through the slots in the next uppermost series, tie plates between the superimposed wall plates having slots through which the tongues of the said plates pass, and the base of the upper courses of wall plates resting on the tie plates, said tie plates having notches to receive the spacer plates, said tie plates having their ends arranged between the courses of slabs, and opposed flanges on the said ends received in the grooves of the said slabs.

7. In a wall construction whose inner and. outer wall surfaces are made up of superimposed courses of slabs which have their edges rooved longitudinally, comprising vertical y disposed channeled Wall plates arranged in superimposed relation and o positely disposed pairs, each of said wall p ates comprising a channeled member whose outer edges are in contactlng engagement With the inner faces of the opposed slabs, each of said plates having a base which is rooved and which is notched and having its opposite end provided with tongues and with notches between the tongues, longitudinally disposed tie plates notched to provide fingers to be received in the notches of the wall so I plates, and the tongues of each series of wall plates designed to be passed through the slots in the next uppermost series, tie plates between the superimposed wall plates having slots through which the tongues of the said plates pass, and the base of the upper courses of wall plates resting on the tie plates, said tie plates having notches to receive .the spacerplates, said tie plates having their ends arranged between the courses of slabs, and opposed flanges on the said ends received in the grooves of the said slabs, and said tie plates having key-hole slots therethrough, and rod members having bits received through the slots for connecting corner sections to the uppermost series of tie plates.

8. In a wall construction whose inner and outer Wall surfaces are made up of superimposedcourses of slabs which have their edges grooved longitudinally, comprising vertically disposed channeled wall plates arranged in superimposed relation and oppositely disposed pairs, each of said wall plates comprisinga channeled member whose outer edges are in contacting engagement with the inner faces of the opposed slabs, each of said plates having a base which is grooved and which is notched and having its opposite end provided with tongues and with notches between the tongues, longitudinally disposed tie plates notched to provide fingers to be received in the notches of the wall plates. and

the tongues of each series of wall plates designed to be passed through the slots in the next uppermost series, tie plates between the superimposed wall plates having slots through Which the tongues of the said plates pass, and the base of the upper courses of wall plates resting on the tie plates, said tie plates having notches to receive the spacer plates, said tie plates having their ends arranged between the courses of slabs, and opposed flanges on the said ends received in the grooves of the said slabs, members having 20 T-shaped heads passing between the horizontal joints of certain of the inner slabs, and said members having their outer ends provided with sockets.

9. A wall construction in which slabs arranged in superimposed courses provide the inner and outer walls therefor, comprising vertical members in contacting engagement with the inner faces of the opposed slabs, spacing means for said vertical members, tie means engaging both the spacer means and the vertical members, means at the confronting ends of the superimposed first mentioned means for securing the tie means thereto, and means on the tie means disposed between the superimposed slabs and engaging therewith to hold the latter on the frame work, and a plastic filler between the vertical plates and the slabs. 1

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRAINK L. DECKER. 

